Robotic pancreatoduodenectomy with vascular resection: Outcomes and learning curve

The safety, efficacy, and learning curve for robotic pancreatoduodenecomy has been reported; however, the outcomes and learning curve of robotic pancreatoduodenecomy with vascular resections remain unknown. Our aim was to evaluate the outcomes of robotic pancreatoduodenecomy with vascular resections compared with robotic pancreatoduodenecomy without vascular resection and to identify the learning curve and benchmarks for improved performance during robotic pancreatoduodenecomy with vascular resections.

A retrospective review of consecutive patients who underwent robotic pancreatoduodenecomy with vascular resections and robotic pancreatoduodenecomy between 2011 and 2017. Patients were analyzed consecutively, and a cumulative sum analysis was performed to detect improvements in performance over time.

Of 380 consecutive robotic pancreatoduodenecomy patients, 50 (13%) underwent robotic pancreatoduodenecomy with vascular resections. Compared with robotic pancreatoduodenecomy, robotic pancreatoduodenecomy with vascular resections were more likely to have had pancreatic adenocarcinoma (84% vs 42%) and had received neoadjuvant therapy (35% vs 65%, P < .01). Robotic pancreatoduodenecomy with vascular resections operative time revealed a steady, significant decrease (Rho = -0.38, p = .006) with marked initial improvement after the first 8 cases and maturation of the learning curve after 35 cases. A significant decrease in duration of the hospital stay was observed throughout the experience (Rho = -0.528, P < .0001), whereas margin status, pancreatic fistula, major morbidity, and mortality remained constant and comparable to robotic pancreatoduodenecomy alone.

Robotic pancreatoduodenectomy with vascular resections is safe and feasible. For surgeons who have surpassed the learning curve of robotic pancreatoduodenectomy, it appears that improvements in performance of robotic pancreatoduodenecomy with vascular resections can be observed after 35 cases.